The Seattle Storm and Las Vegas Aces meet Sunday in game 1 of the WNBA Playoffs Second Round at the Michelob ULTRA Arena. The Seattle Storm are coming off a sweep of the Mystics. The Las Vegas Aces are coming off a sweep of the Mercury.
The Seattle Storm are averaging 91.5 points on 53.2 percent shooting and allowing 83.5 points on 46.6 percent shooting. Breanna Stewart is averaging 22 points and 11 rebounds, while Jewell Loyd is averaging 17.5 points and 3 rebounds. Sue Bird is the third double-digit scorer and Gabby Williams is dishing 3 assists. The Seattle Storm are shooting 51.2 percent from beyond the arc and 81.8 percent from the free throw line. The Seattle Storm are allowing 45.7 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 32 rebounds per game.
The Las Vegas Aces are averaging 98 points on 53.2 percent shooting and allowing 71.5 points on 38.5 percent shooting. Chelsea Gray is averaging 22 points and 3.5 rebounds, while Kelsey Plum is averaging 22 points and 4.5 rebounds. Jackie Young is the third double-digit scorer and A’ja Wilson is grabbing 8 rebounds. The Las Vegas Aces are shooting 50 percent from beyond the arc and 93.8 percent from the free throw line. The Las Vegas Aces are allowing 24.4 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 36 rebounds per game.
The Storm are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games and 7-22 ATS in their last 29 vs. Western Conference. The Aces are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 Sunday games and 4-10 ATS in their last 14 home games. The over is 7-0 in Storm last 7 overall. The over is 23-11 in Aces last 34 home games. The Storm are 2-5 ATS in the last 7 meetings in Las Vegas and 1-5 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
The Seattle Storm in the underdog role is attractive, but they've been shaky on the road as of late, which includes losses in 5 of their last 8 road games. The Las Vegas Aces are playing some of their best ball of the season, and they've won 3 of the 4 meetings this year against the Storm. I'd need an extra bucket or two to consider the Storm on the road here against the hot Aces. Give me the Aces and the small chalk.
AUTHOR: Randy Chambers
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